To conduct a preliminary investigation of the relationship between patient satisfaction with oral status and the presence of posterior fixed partial dentures (FPD). METHOD AND MATERIALS: A total of 150 women with intact anterior dental segments, randomly drawn from women's schools for adult education, participated (mean age, 33.8 years; SD, 10.4; range, 20 to 63 years). Each woman was assisted in completing a questionnaire on aspects of her oral health beliefs and satisfaction with oral function, and underwent an on-site clinical examination. Subjects were categorized according to general prosthodontic status: those with missing posterior teeth and no FPDs (MN), those with FPDs (PR), and those who were fully dentate (FD). Their responses to the questionnaire were compared. RESULTS: Value placed on oral health did not differ among the groups. Satisfaction with overall oral status, chewing function, and appearance did not differ between MN and PR, although overall satisfaction and appearance were each significantly greater in FD than in MN (P <.001 and P <.05, respectively). Overall satisfaction was negatively correlated with the mean number of missing teeth (P <.01), although perception of chewing ability did not differ among the groups, nor did it differ in relation to the number of posterior occluding pairs of teeth. CONCLUSIONS: The hypothesis that individuals with fixed prosthodontic replacements of their missing posterior teeth are more satisfied with their oral status than those without such replacements was not confirmed, while the question of the importance of patient satisfaction as a positive outcome of oral health care is raised.